Londonderry PD honors officers of the year

From left: Londonderry Police Department Chaplain Gerald Goncalo, officer Rafael Ribeiro and Detective Randy Duguay were honored this week as the Civilian of the Year and Co-officers of the Year, respectively. Each received a round of applause during Monday’s Londonderry Town Council meeting. (CHRIS GAROFOLO/Correspondent)

LONDONDERRY — For only the third time in 35 years, the Londonderry Police Department named two people as Officer of the Year.

Sharing the award for 2017 are Detective Randy Duguay and officer Rafael Ribeiro, both recognized this week for their commitment to public service, said Londonderry Police Chief William Hart.

The department also recognized its chaplain, Gerald Goncalo, as the civilian of the year.

All three recipients have served in the armed forces.

“What that is evidence of, though, is the kind of officers that we look for, who are dedicated to a life of service,” Hart told the Town Council Monday night. “We’re lucky to have them, they (help) make LPD what we believe it is and I’m humbled to be the chief of an agency with guys like this.”

Duguay, a 12-year veteran with the department and two-time recipient of the award, served as a Marine before entering his law enforcement career with Londonderry.

He received the award for his overall outstanding work as the LPD juvenile detective.

Ribeiro, who has been with the agency for five years and is part of the motorcycle unit, served in the U.S. Army.

The department cited Ribeiro’s countless arrests for drugs based off routine traffic stops.

Goncalo, who continues to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps, has been the department chaplain for six years and received townwide praise for his behind-the-scenes role in aiding members of the public and helping form the LPD Critical Incident Management Team.

Hart also touted Goncalo’s dedication to fighting the opioid crisis in the community. He is instituting a program to provide support to those who have lost a family member to addiction.

“Beginning of January of this coming year at the senior center, we’ll every other week provide an opportunity for folks to get together and have somebody who has been through it before listen to them. That’s the initiative of our chaplain,” the chief said.

Detective Christopher Olson, who also serves as the department’s public information officer, said there was a record number of nominations this year, which “speaks volumes of the quality of officers we have throughout our agency.”